PURLEY PARISH NEWS OCTOBER 2004 35P For the Church & Community of PURLEY ON THAMES ST. MARY THE VIRGIN PURLEY ON THAMES RECTOR Rev. Roger B. Howell The Rectory, 1 Westridge Avenue Purley on Thames Tel: 0118 941 7727 Email: [email protected] CURATE Rev. Jean Rothery —Oaklea“, Tidmarsh Road Tidmarsh Tel: 0118 984 3625 ORDAINED LOCAL MINISTER Rev. Andrew Mackie 12 Church Mews Purley on Thames Tel: 0118 941 7170 CHURCHWARDENS Sally Robertson Lorna Herring Tel: 0118 962 5978 Tel: 0118 942 1547 CHURCH HALL BOOKINGS Lorna Herring Tel: 0118 942 1547 BAPTISMS, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS All enquiries should be made to the Rector www.stmarythevirgin.fsnet.co.uk 1 LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK It would be really good if we could have a correspondence page in this magazine on a regular basis. It could provide some healthy interaction between different parts of the community, and the editor would welcome brief letters in response to anything that appears in the magazine. So how about this one? WHY DON‘T YOU COME TO CHURCH? This is not meant to be a criticism, but a genuine enquiry. In the last Census well over 70% of residents in Purley said they were Christians. On the face of it someone like me should be very encouraged by that, but it raises a number of questions in my mind. Quite apart from the question of what it means to be a Christian, my first thought is this œ —Over 70% say they are Christians, but less than 2% have any recognizable connection with the Parish Church in terms of worship!“ Here are some of the questions that pass through my mind as I think about this: • Why is St. Mary‘s Church so unattractive to people? • What is it that puts them off from coming on Sundays? • Is it the time of the Sunday services œ morning and evening? • Would a mid-week service have an appeal? • Have they already tried it and vowed never to come again? • Is the format of the services unhelpful and perhaps unintelligible? • Are there hurts from the past about church that are still raw? • Are there problems of belief that are being struggled with? It is not that I think that St. Mary‘s is the only place for worship on Sundays. I know that some residents are members of churches elsewhere in the district, and that‘s OK. It would be good to know who you are though, and then I may well be very encouraged to know just how many active church members there are in the community. One of the ways we could get to know one another is to meet together to pray for the place where we live, and there is an item elsewhere in this issue about that. So, how about putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard and let us know why you don‘t come to church? You can write to the editor or direct to me if you wish (contact details opposite). If there is anything you would like to discuss in this matter you only have to contact me and I will do what I can. Roger Howell 2 2 PARISH REGISTERS FUNERALS 9 August Peggy Louise Slade (cremation) aged 82 years 16 August Ronald George Jenkins (cremation) aged 80 years 1 September Arthur Thomas Bint (cremation) aged 75 years 3 September Patricia Heslop (cremation) aged 74 years 10 September George Smith Hewit (cremation) aged 67 years 19 OCTOBER 29 NOVEMBER Don't miss the opportunity to pray with Christians from many denominations about issues which affect everyone living in Purley. We meet at St. Mary's church at 8 p.m. Contact Sally Robertson (962 5978) for more details. NEWSPAPER HEADLINES Headlines in the press are pretty predictable aren‘t they! Bombs, terrorism, hatred, murder etc. But as hardly a week passes by, somewhere in the world Christians are threatened, persecuted and sometimes killed for their faith in Jesus Christ. Rarely, if ever, do such things get reported in the papers! St. Mary‘s Church has been concerned about this for a number of years now and we have given financial support and practical action to these beleaguered communities through the ministry of the Barnabas Fund. On Sunday 7 November 2004 we have a visiting speaker œ Caroline Kerslake, at both morning services œ 9.30 and 11.15 a.m. If you want to find out what the situation is for Christians in many parts of the world, come œ you will be most welcome. You can find out about the persecution of Christians and what the Barnabas Fund is doing to support them by looking up www.barnabasfund.org.uk 3 CHURCH SERVICES . Oct 10.30 a.m. Harvest Thanksgiving 6.00 p.m. Holy Communion 10 Oct 9.30 a.m. Family Worship 11.15 a.m. Holy Communion 3.00 p.m. Community Memorial Service 17 Oct 9.30 a.m. Family Communion 11.15 a.m. Morning Worship 6.00 p.m. Evening Worship 24 Oct 9.30 a.m. Family Worship 11.15 a.m. Holy Communion 31 Oct 9.30 a.m. Family Worship 11.15 a.m. Holy Communion 7 Nov 9.30 a.m. Family Worship with visiting speaker 11.15 a.m. Holy Communion with visiting speaker 6.00 p.m. Holy Communion COMMUNITY MEMORIAL SERVICE SUNDAY 10 OCTOBER AT 3.00 P.M. This annual service of remembrance is for all who have lost loved ones œ particularly during the last twelve months, but also for those whose bereavement is more distant, but nonetheless real. Personal invitations have been sent to those with whom we are in touch, but all are welcome. The speaker is Revd. Douglas Loveridge, assistant Chaplain at the Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals. DOES ANYBODY PLAY THE ORGAN OUT THERE? St. Mary's Church could do with some help with accompaniment on Sundays. If anyone is a secret, proficient organ player and is willing to become involved, please contact the Rector - 941 7727. 4 4 ACCIDENTS WAITING TO HAPPEN! I wonder if you are alert to a number of situations where accidents are just waiting to happen in Purley. • Children cycling up St. Mary's Avenue on the path and then suddenly without warning darting between parked cars into the road. Motorists have little chance of avoiding a collision! • Young people with motor scooters towing cyclists behind them - another dangerous situation. • Mini-scooters with engine power being driven on roads by young people - no crash helmets, and what about insurance where someone else gets injured? Life can be full of hazards, but these are unnecessary, and others can so easily get caught up in them. Come on parents - help to avoid a tragedy please. Roger Howell MESSAGE FROM HOME FARM With harvest almost over I have joined most other farmers in doing the same exercise; ”what do we grow next year that might show a profit?‘ Sadly there is no easy answer, however we shall continue to make the best of what is fast becoming a more complex occupation. At least the cows are milking well, helped along by a good flush of autumn grass and almost a quarter of the herd calving in the last two months. Now to cover a few queries: the brown cow in the milking herd (there may be two by the time you read this) is a Guernsey. We purchased two at a farm dispersal sale recently with a view to boosting our milk butterfat. Secondly, the Angus cows in the front field are also causing confusion. To set the records straight, the black calf goes with the orange cow whereas the orange calf goes with the black cow - honest! Breeding plays wonderful tricks! Talking of tricks, the ”gypsies‘ are here to stay for at least the next 18 months. The vagaries of British law and the system of planning appeals mean that although we unanimously rejected their planning application they cannot be evicted. The site is already covered with debris, derelict caravans and dumped vehicles with the field above the site being used as an open loo. All the fears of the locals, unfortunately, are being confirmed as the ”Irish travellers‘ are certainly not trying to endear themselves to the inhabitants of the surrounding area. I believe that the aerial that is to be built on the Beech Road playing field will also cause unrest. I have been obliged to keep quiet on this matter as I have a conflict of interest as the present mast has sat amongst my farm 5 buildings for some time. However it is to be re-sited next month, (Nov), to a place where it will not only be far more visible but also much closer to the public and playing children. Please don‘t get me wrong, I personally have no fears regarding the safety of these structures, or I would not have allowed it on my farm, but there is a perceived danger, which if blown up by some locals could cause a major embarrassment for the Parish Council. Even the hall at the Village School is not as straight forward as some think; its size and height will unfortunately block views from neighbouring properties. This has caused concern; but without this addition to the buildings I fear that the future of the school will certainly come into doubt. One advantage of our wet summer, (or perhaps I should say disadvantage in my case), has been the abundant crop of blackberries. This has led to many blackberry and apple crumbles along with cream and custard which has led to an increase in my girth! The solution, according to my daughter, having noticed that Weight Watchers are now meeting at the Village School is to begin a new activity for the winter! Tim Metcalfe Parish and District Councillor PURLEY TOTS AUTUMN FAYRE Saturday 23 October 2004, 2 - 3.30pm St Mary’s Church H all, Purley on Tham es Attractions include: RAFFLE CAKE STALL BOOKS & TOYS TOMBOLA SOMETH ING FOR EV ERYONE Refreshm ents available FREE ENTRY 6 6 TEENAGERS ARE FROM MARS PARENTS ARE FROM VENUS This is the title of an event for all parents of children from 10-18 years at Wycliffe Baptist Church, Kings Road, Reading on Tuesday 26 October starting at 7.30 p.m.